Whit Whitaker, tenor

Diana Hallman, pianist

Tenor Whit Whitaker will be presenting a free performance entitled Redemption: A Journey from Slavery to Freedom at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour on Sunday, March 13, at 2 p.m. Redemption is a musical depiction interwoven to tell a story of the harmony and dichotomy of man’s enslavement and his redemptive journey to freedom. Whitaker’s style and blend of sacred music and art songs are accompanied by pianist Diana Hallman.

Whitaker, who earned his Bachelors of Music at the University of Kentucky, has performed throughout Europe and the United States as a soloist and member of several choral ensembles, including the internationally renowned American Spiritual Ensemble. He has also appeared in a wide variety of local and regional productions, most recently as Sportin’ Life in UK Opera Theater’s production of the opera Porgy and Bess. His musical partner Diana Hallman is an Associate Professor of Musicology in the School of Music at the University of Kentucky.

In Redemption, Whitaker uses Biblical themes to direct attention to the historical journey of American slavery and the parallel journey of Christians from sin to salvation. Through the music and words of the songs performed by Whitaker, the audience can experience the oppression of slavery and the redeeming grace of God’s love.

The performance by Whitaker and Hallman is part of a concert series that takes place at Our Saviour every second Sunday at 2 p.m. People of all ages are invited. The concert is free, but donations are accepted at the door to support the artist and the outreach activities of the church.

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour is located at 2323 Lexington Rd., Richmond. For directions or for more information, see the web site at oursaviourky.org.

A Journey from Slavery to Freedom

Slavery is prevalent throughout the Bible. In spite of all of its harshness and the many pains and deaths inflicted upon certain people in the Bible, one would be hard pressed to find prophets and scriptures that condemn this practice or find scripture that one interprets as condemnation of slavery. Consequently, throughout history, the enslavement of man has been excused and justified by statesmen, kings, clergy, and people of power, wealth, and privilege, most of whom justify the practice by the examples set forth in the Bible.

19th-century U.S. Senator James Hammond said, “The doom of Ham has been branded on the form and features of his African descendants. The hand of fate has united his destiny and color. Man cannot separate what God hath joined.” This idea of the “right of owning slaves as clearly established by the Holy Scriptures both by precept and example” is one that has allowed men to continue with the oppression of their brethren without regard to their own moral infidelity or unconscionable attitudes.
Today, while the threat of African slavery and the enslavement of people in general have declined, oppression continues to rear its ugly head under new and equally painful guises; thus we find that slavery comes in many forms.

I invite you to walk in the shoes, minds and bodies of those oppressed into slavery in the past. Feel their pain. Imagine their hope and hopelessness. Hear their cries for salvation and freedom . . . Then see their joy as their prayers are answered as they are or soon to become freed from oppression.

As you immerse yourself, think of how slavery parallels the journey of Christians from sin into Salvation and the pains that we still endure today and the pains that Christ endured to free us from bondage. Allow yourself to become one of the truly oppressed in heart as you listen to the music and the words. Perhaps at the end of this journey we will again feel the redeem-ing grace of His power and we can believe that the souls gone before us are truly forgiving and forgiven and are now at peace.

Redemption is the implied musical depiction of the journey from slavery to freedom—from man and from Sin, through one man’s voice, but it can only be realized by you if you hear it, see it, feel it and believe it.

I invite you to embark upon this journey—a journey to REDEMPTION.

—Whit Whitaker